Nov 19, 2013, 3:20 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
Covid-19 Update:
For further information on AA awards see:
HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver Award Availability - Help, Assistance & Discussion
and
AA oneworld and Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (2015 on)
N.B. Upgrades on QR book into fares not granted EQD/EQM by AA. If you're upgraded on QR, be prepared for pushback from some AA agents. You may have to submit a formal request with accompanying documentation reflecting you purchased an eligible fare class.
NOTE:AA has removed most EY and QR award access from aa.com due to a glitch booking these:
If you experience difficulties with the AA reservations system, you may be able to book by calling AA Australia (+61 2-9101-1948 ) then press 4 - or the New Zealand number (+64 09-308-4014) as an alternative - although the call center is actually in Suva, Fiji (South African agency Mindpearl) - as they can often see the inventory more reliably, and you can book.
NOTE: USA Canada travel on QR will earn EQ miles etc. in accordance with the fare class purchased.
Links:
Link to AA.com Qatar miles earning etc.
AA miles earning on QR changed 1 May 2016 (Link):
Minimum miles guarantee applies.
Checking QR award availability:
You can check QR availability on AA's site, BA's site, QF's site, www.awardnexus.com (which pulls from BA and/or QF), or the KVS tool. (A certain number of searches are free to FlyerTalk members at AwardNexus; click the "more signup options" link under the green Purchase button to sign up as a FlyerTalk member.)
When checking QR award availability, you have to check each segment individually. Both BA and QF can generate very misleading information if you try to check QR award availability all the way through [xxx-(DOH)-yyy] in one step. Be aware AA can only book 330 days out, even if you see availability farther out.
Awards on QR may not be visible to AA agents if a multi-segment itinerary is requested; broken into individual segments will generally reveal availability, however.
As well, AA Australia or New Zealand (actually MindPearl in Fiji) can often see and book AA awards on QR US-based ones might not be able to.
From danger: For AA awards, Economy is X, Business is U, First is Z. NOTE: Those with Z (First) awards may see "Z (Business Class)" shown on the QR website; this is a known glitch.
As well, QR sells intra gulf two class service as First and Economy, as AA does domestically. This can cause some issues with a Business flight including a Gulf "First" flight potentially incurring an F award redemption.
From hotelmotel: "Got my QR PNR from AA. Popped over to QR and selected seats." (AAdvantage award.)
Days of the week: To/from the USA, especially in business class, Qatar often only offers awards seats for Mon..Thu departures, not Fri..Sun departures. So makes sure you check different parts of the week, and not just always weekends (if you're not finding anything on weekends).
NOTE: At DOH / Hamad International Airport, lounges as follows:
Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Lounge (not a oneworld lounge): only accessible to those flying First Class on Qatar or oneworld airlines and QRPC Platniums flying in ticketed Business (not oneworld Emeralds flying other lower classes of service)
Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge (not a oneworld lounge): only accessible to those flying Business Class on Qatar or oneworld (not oneworld Sapphire flying lower classes of service)
Oryx Lounge: Third party lounge.
Qatar Airways HIA First Class Lounge (oneworld lounge): First Class ticketed customers, Emerald members, as well as their accompanying guests, travelling on Qatar Airways and other oneworld member flights.
Qatar Airways HIA Business Class Lounge (oneworld lounge): First and Business Class ticketed customers, Emerald and Sapphire members, as well as their accompanying guests, travelling on Qatar Airways and other oneworld member flights.
Arrivals Lounges (not oneworld lounges): only accessible to those arriving in First or Business Class on Qatar Airways (not oneworld Sapphire flying other oneworld airlines or other classes of service)
See FT: QR Lounges at HIA
Selecting Qatar Airways Seats
If you want to assign a seat after booking an award, you should first try the Qatar website or app. If you experience issues, please try a partner site like Royal Jordanian, Malaysia Airlines, or Sri-Lankan. You can also reach out to the QR Twitter team to fix your record in order to be able to select seats on their own site.
- Sapphire+ status pax are temporarily allowed to use the Al Mourjan Business Lounge
- Only tickets issued on QR 157 stock are eligible for the Extending Our Commitment (EOC) rebooking policy
For further information on AA awards see:
HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver Award Availability - Help, Assistance & Discussion
and
AA oneworld and Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (2015 on)
N.B. Upgrades on QR book into fares not granted EQD/EQM by AA. If you're upgraded on QR, be prepared for pushback from some AA agents. You may have to submit a formal request with accompanying documentation reflecting you purchased an eligible fare class.
NOTE:AA has removed most EY and QR award access from aa.com due to a glitch booking these:
From One Mile at a Time (link)
Bottom Line
For the time being you’ll have to call American if you want to ticket AAdvantage awards on Etihad & Qatar that aren’t for travel to & from the US or Canada. It makes sense that American took these awards “offline,” and now it also makes sense why so many passengers have been having issues with checked bags on awards.
Bottom Line
For the time being you’ll have to call American if you want to ticket AAdvantage awards on Etihad & Qatar that aren’t for travel to & from the US or Canada. It makes sense that American took these awards “offline,” and now it also makes sense why so many passengers have been having issues with checked bags on awards.
NOTE: USA Canada travel on QR will earn EQ miles etc. in accordance with the fare class purchased.
Links:
Link to AA.com Qatar miles earning etc.
AA miles earning on QR changed 1 May 2016 (Link):
Minimum miles guarantee applies.
Checking QR award availability:
You can check QR availability on AA's site, BA's site, QF's site, www.awardnexus.com (which pulls from BA and/or QF), or the KVS tool. (A certain number of searches are free to FlyerTalk members at AwardNexus; click the "more signup options" link under the green Purchase button to sign up as a FlyerTalk member.)
When checking QR award availability, you have to check each segment individually. Both BA and QF can generate very misleading information if you try to check QR award availability all the way through [xxx-(DOH)-yyy] in one step. Be aware AA can only book 330 days out, even if you see availability farther out.
Awards on QR may not be visible to AA agents if a multi-segment itinerary is requested; broken into individual segments will generally reveal availability, however.
As well, AA Australia or New Zealand (actually MindPearl in Fiji) can often see and book AA awards on QR US-based ones might not be able to.
From danger: For AA awards, Economy is X, Business is U, First is Z. NOTE: Those with Z (First) awards may see "Z (Business Class)" shown on the QR website; this is a known glitch.
As well, QR sells intra gulf two class service as First and Economy, as AA does domestically. This can cause some issues with a Business flight including a Gulf "First" flight potentially incurring an F award redemption.
From hotelmotel: "Got my QR PNR from AA. Popped over to QR and selected seats." (AAdvantage award.)
Days of the week: To/from the USA, especially in business class, Qatar often only offers awards seats for Mon..Thu departures, not Fri..Sun departures. So makes sure you check different parts of the week, and not just always weekends (if you're not finding anything on weekends).
NOTE: At DOH / Hamad International Airport, lounges as follows:
Qatar Airways Al Safwa First Lounge (not a oneworld lounge): only accessible to those flying First Class on Qatar or oneworld airlines and QRPC Platniums flying in ticketed Business (not oneworld Emeralds flying other lower classes of service)
Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge (not a oneworld lounge): only accessible to those flying Business Class on Qatar or oneworld (not oneworld Sapphire flying lower classes of service)
Oryx Lounge: Third party lounge.
Qatar Airways HIA First Class Lounge (oneworld lounge): First Class ticketed customers, Emerald members, as well as their accompanying guests, travelling on Qatar Airways and other oneworld member flights.
Qatar Airways HIA Business Class Lounge (oneworld lounge): First and Business Class ticketed customers, Emerald and Sapphire members, as well as their accompanying guests, travelling on Qatar Airways and other oneworld member flights.
Arrivals Lounges (not oneworld lounges): only accessible to those arriving in First or Business Class on Qatar Airways (not oneworld Sapphire flying other oneworld airlines or other classes of service)
See FT: QR Lounges at HIA
Selecting Qatar Airways Seats
If you want to assign a seat after booking an award, you should first try the Qatar website or app. If you experience issues, please try a partner site like Royal Jordanian, Malaysia Airlines, or Sri-Lankan. You can also reach out to the QR Twitter team to fix your record in order to be able to select seats on their own site.
Qatar Airways / QR: Redeem AA Miles for Award (master thd)
Mar 24, 2022, 10:39 pm
#2176
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
Does anyone have experience with upgrades on AA ticket stock?
Can you upgrade in QR MMB in advance or during OLCI?
The QR website refers to an MMB option, emails in advance (15-7 days prior), OLCI and airport upgrade options but doesn’t refer to particular ticket stock. I assume emails only go to QR ticketed pax.
https://www.qatarairways.com/en-au/upgrade.html
Can you upgrade in QR MMB in advance or during OLCI?
The QR website refers to an MMB option, emails in advance (15-7 days prior), OLCI and airport upgrade options but doesn’t refer to particular ticket stock. I assume emails only go to QR ticketed pax.
https://www.qatarairways.com/en-au/upgrade.html
Last edited by m0hamed; Mar 25, 2022 at 12:02 am
Mar 25, 2022, 10:05 am
#2177
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 321
Indeed. Once I saw availability opened up I put couple of itineraries on hold. I know I will book 1 and cancel other. This is for DFW-MAA/HYD-DFW in summer. Lot of dates opened up early this week too good to not hold at least for a couple of days.
Mar 25, 2022, 11:14 am
#2178
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: DCA/IAD & BUF
Posts: 1,406
Me too. Grabbed QR operated JFK--DOH-MLE for the last day in July they were offering the JFK flights & an ORD flight in a couple weeks. Trying to work out now which will keep and which will return. Probably a good amount of inventory will be returned the 27th & 28th as folks who held them early finalize their selections.
Mar 25, 2022, 11:51 am
#2179
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
It has been so long ago we have flown QR I could not remember how seat assignment being done. Yes I remember one can use RJ or AY site for certain function on partner airlines. Unlike many others we do not care for the “double bed” thing. We have our own paces on dining and sleeping. Individual seats suit us better. 
.
I will patiently wait a week on the ticketing. I need to book an AMM-CAI and a CAI-FCO segment, but much prefer the long one is ticketed first. AMM-CAI using BA Avios at 6000 in Y is much cheaper than using AA miles at 17,500 with just $50+ extra due to BA charges YQ. However BA has a $55 cancellation fee… CAI-FCO a pay ticket is the best option though I might hold the space with an UA award which is free to cancel up to 31 days. Then replace it with a pay ticket.
It really is tough to book a trip many months in advance even without the current uncertainty. I very much miss the old days when we could book only 3 months out for a trip. Sigh.
.I will patiently wait a week on the ticketing. I need to book an AMM-CAI and a CAI-FCO segment, but much prefer the long one is ticketed first. AMM-CAI using BA Avios at 6000 in Y is much cheaper than using AA miles at 17,500 with just $50+ extra due to BA charges YQ. However BA has a $55 cancellation fee… CAI-FCO a pay ticket is the best option though I might hold the space with an UA award which is free to cancel up to 31 days. Then replace it with a pay ticket.
It really is tough to book a trip many months in advance even without the current uncertainty. I very much miss the old days when we could book only 3 months out for a trip. Sigh.
It pays to call after 3 days. Called yesterday the phone rep went over everything said it looked fine and would contact the review dept. She came back said it was now in process but if I did not see the tickets in 24 hours, called back to let AA know.
No ticket this morning. Called and got lucky for only 4 min wait! This agent went thru everything then noticed WHY the ticketing did not go thru because some info on the payment screen "Expired"... The card number was there but the expiration and CCV were missing (how did that happen?) Also it seemed "they" could not see the total taxes. Anyway she took the needed info on the card over the phone, and sent it to ticketing. Again, told me to call back if still no ticket in 24 hours.
eTickets arrived in 1.5 hours.
BTW the agent this morning advised to call if one did not see eTickets show up in 72 hours. If there are issues the sooner the better to find that and fixed them. That is exactly the case here.
Mar 25, 2022, 1:19 pm
#2180
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVPG75K, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, AGR S+
Posts: 366
Routing rules?
I currently have a J award ADL-PER-DOH booked, ADL-PER on QF of course, 80k miles. When seats opened up out of MEL/SYD this week, I wasn't able to route over either without it wanting to price out as two awards, so 100k. Shouldn't it be 80k? QR sells the itinerary on their website. I mean, I have something so it's not a big deal but would absolutely prefer the QF F Lounge in MEL in addition to the A350 vs the airport experience in PER. Not too keen on the A380 so avoiding SYD if I can. I had an itinerary on hold but it canceled sooner than I expected and the seats are now gone but would be good to know should additional seats be released in the future.
Mar 25, 2022, 1:31 pm
#2181
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,498
I currently have a J award ADL-PER-DOH booked, ADL-PER on QF of course, 80k miles. When seats opened up out of MEL/SYD this week, I wasn't able to route over either without it wanting to price out as two awards, so 100k. Shouldn't it be 80k? QR sells the itinerary on their website. I mean, I have something so it's not a big deal but would absolutely prefer the QF F Lounge in MEL in addition to the A350 vs the airport experience in PER. Not too keen on the A380 so avoiding SYD if I can. I had an itinerary on hold but it canceled sooner than I expected and the seats are now gone but would be good to know should additional seats be released in the future.
Also what is "it" with regards to "it wanting to price out as two awards"?
Mar 25, 2022, 1:49 pm
#2182
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: AS MVPG75K, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, AGR S+
Posts: 366
Mar 25, 2022, 2:32 pm
#2183
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,498
Mar 25, 2022, 4:25 pm
#2184
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 321
just paid for my reservations which I was holding. AA didn't let me select the seats (knew that). But looks like when I go to Qatar website to manage my booking, it shows $25 to select a seat. anyway to get away from the cost of seat selection? I'm looking at 4 passengers * 25 * 4 flights = $400 for seat selection. Call AA?
Mar 25, 2022, 4:28 pm
#2185
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,410
just paid for my reservations which I was holding. AA didn't let me select the seats (knew that). But looks like when I go to Qatar website to manage my booking, it shows $25 to select a seat. anyway to get away from the cost of seat selection? I'm looking at 4 passengers * 25 * 4 flights = $400 for seat selection. Call AA?
Mar 25, 2022, 4:34 pm
#2186
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 321
Tried with AA record locator, didn't pull up. tried with qatar reference, pulled up, but didn't let me select any seats-all seats are showing greyed out with this msg: "
1 warning Warning There is an error with one of the special service (15235)"
Mar 25, 2022, 4:55 pm
#2187
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: So Cal
Posts: 937
Have you called Qatar's call center? Let them know you want to select your seats for your family of four and have had no luck on their website.
Mar 25, 2022, 7:39 pm
#2188
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: DCA/IAD & BUF
Posts: 1,406
Are your tickets "J"? It didn't charge me for seat selections in J. I think maybe I saw something a while back though QR wasn't allowing advance Y seat selections any longer without a fee - not sure of that or the details though.
Mar 26, 2022, 4:06 pm
#2189
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 321
That came up on my reservations also. Not sure why or what it references, but I ignored it, and the system still let me go straight to the seat selection.
Are your tickets "J"? It didn't charge me for seat selections in J. I think maybe I saw something a while back though QR wasn't allowing advance Y seat selections any longer without a fee - not sure of that or the details though.
Are your tickets "J"? It didn't charge me for seat selections in J. I think maybe I saw something a while back though QR wasn't allowing advance Y seat selections any longer without a fee - not sure of that or the details though.